Judie is staying at SAA and we finally forced them to acknowledge that our school belongs to the students and families who built it. I am beyond grateful to the 144 signers who refused to be silent while our community was being torn apart. We are keeping our eyes open …
May 5, 2021
Final supporters
FINAL UPDATE:This Petition is now closed for voting and commenting. We sincerely thank all 144 petitioners (prophetically, the 144,000). You made history at SAA and we know the power structure has been watching and listening. They are already being forced to reckon with this movement for transparency, democracy, and accountability, and we have only just begun. Meanwhile, please visit our new transparency blog "Eyes on SAA" https://lilyrichmond39.wixsite.com/eyesonsaa
There you can keep up with ongoing reporting on important issues, subscribe to instantly receive emails with each new post on our blog, and contact us to report matters of significance at Spencerville Adventist Academy. We will not keep as secret the important information you should know about, gaslight you with duplicitous press releases, or condescend to you that "all is well and that there's nothing to see here." No way. Not us. Never. We'll be keeping busy building a network of contacts, subscribers, and reporters who will work together to improve a school that we love by "Shining Light. Breaking Silence. Holding Accountable."
-Lillian Hepburn-Richmond (A Cohort of Concerned Parents)
_________________________________
ORIGINAL PETITION (4/8/2021)
Jesus said the sign that we know Him is if we love one another. Love isn’t an abstract idea. It’s how we treat one another – even when things are complicated and we feel irritated with each other. It’s also when we see a sister treated poorly, whether we are willing to come beside her, stand with her, support her. This petition is about love. Love for SAA. Love for Judie. Love for the rest of the SAA administration. Love for SAA students and families. And expressing that love in a redeeming, Christ-like manner.
Many across the community are concerned that Judie's sudden and unexplained absence from SAA over the past week is disruptive and not in the best interests of our students and teachers as they finish the school year. While her absence is now apparent, we still have received no official word that she is gone, or been given explanations how this was the right decision for our school. This is damaging to the trust placed in the SAA Board and Administration, to whom this Petition is directed:
1. We respectfully request that Judie Rosa be permitted to return and complete the school year to serve the best interests of our children, and in acknowledgement of her years of hard work and sacrifice for the SAA community.
2. We respectfully request a "Town Hall" style meeting with the SAA Board and Administration, for them to explain why there has not been transparency in the past week, and why Judie has seemingly been treated in a manner that to the community appears less than respectful or constructive, or beneficial to our children.
Note: Judie Rosa’s participation with this petition was not sought. This petition is open to anyone, but especially the SAA Community, past or present. It was organized by a cohort of concerned parents using the name “Lillian Hepburn-Richmond.” You may read their concerns here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MVvoTYLBvEXH_p...
Updates
April 11, 2021
The stories shared in the comments prove that Judie is not alone in this fight. Seeing so many of you rally for her keeps me moving forward while we push for the transparency this school administration desperately lacks.
April 11, 2021
Seeing this momentum grow has been truly overwhelming for me and my family. It proves that so many of you care just as deeply as I do about justice for Judie.
Reached 100 supporters
April 11, 2021
51 Comments
Principal Rosa has been an outstanding principal who demonstrates a great Christian attitude. She has only improved the elementary/middle school since she’s worked there. Her work at SAA and her work in past jobs has proven more than enough that she is a very competent principal. She deserves to finish the year working at SAA.
Mrs.Rosa is one of the most charismatic, compassionate, understanding, and hard workers I know. Everything she does is with diligence. Not only did Mrs.Rosa make such good connections with us, but Mrs. Rosa also treated us like her own kids. It is tremendously devastating to see her go knowing that she exemplified a true Christ-like Vice-principal and, I have so much respect for her.
We were sadden to hear about Mrs.Rosa departure,just want to tell everybody how wonderful and nice she has been to us and since our school is “our community”we deserve an explanation.
It would be a wonderful Christian example for the children to see someone they look up to be allowed to see this school year and Class of 2021 through till successful completion.
I am signing because of the lack of transparency. Judie Rosa was one of the reasons that we entrusted our boys to Spencerville Adventist Academy.
Will Change Come to SAA? Or Shall We Continue the Status Quo? Although the requests of 144 community members for a Town Hall Meeting were callously ignored by Board Chair Noble, Principal Bowerman, Superintendent Walker and the rest of the power structure, there reportedly will be a Constituency Meeting in June (according to the Board Chairperson’s May 5 release). Date? Time? Location? Format? No one knows. But it is now up to you, the students, teachers, parents, and alumni of SAA, and most importantly, you members of Spencerville SDA Church as the sole governing constituents to demand answers, accountability, and changes at the school board and administration levels to ensure that things do not return to the old order of the status quo. We urge a new infusion of democracy and of new leadership in the school board chair and executive committee, some of whom we believe have been in place for up to an entire generation (no one really knows because the list is secret). The school board must no longer be an exclusive club serving as the handmaiden of the administration and the tool of the CC, but a legitimate entity unto itself that is openly and democratically selected (not quietly screened and groomed by the board chair, principal, and pastor in back rooms) to directly engage the concerns of SAA students, teachers, and parents; and then also to serve as an effective representative check and balance on the SAA administration. Who will be brave and courageous enough to step up and fight for these changes? You may follow more information, and contribute your own news items and comments on our new blog 'Eyes on SAA': https://lilyrichmond39.wixsite.com/eyesonsaa
Lessons Learned from the Termination of Judie Rosa, SAA Elementary Principal: 1. Those responsible for terminating Mrs. Rosa have weakened SAA both for today and the foreseeable future. Administrators of her caliber do not grow on the nearest tree. Neither do talented teachers that are now leaving the school in droves. 2. SAA Administration and its Board lack the awareness and common sense to keep the best talent at our school - what the overwhelming majority of the community could have told them had they bothered to ask. 3. Unless calculated to protect its image, we cannot count on either SAA Administration or its Board Chair for relevant, timely, or reliable information we need to properly support our children’s teachers and make decisions for our children’s education. 4. Settling political scores within SAA the administration takes priority over individual merit, past success, and the children’s best interests. If you want to last on the SAA staff, you must form strategic alliances with the powerful and elite members of the administration, board, and/or church. If you don’t toe the party line, you will be punished. 5. We urge a new infusion of democracy, accountability to constituents, and of new leadership in the power structure at SAA. There needs to be a change in the SAA School Board Chair, the unknown members of the Executive Committee and their term limits, and the backroom manner in which board members are discreetly assigned. We also have lost trust in the remaining SAA administration, but we now know how instantly that can be changed. We must press for these changes to happen immediately for the good of our school and our children’s education. All these lessons were learned at the expense of our children, their teachers, and the institution. You may follow more information, and contribute your own news items and comments on our new blog 'Eyes on SAA': https://lilyrichmond39.wixsite.com/eyesonsaa
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Judie is staying at SAA and we finally forced them to acknowledge that our school belongs to the students and families who built it. I am beyond grateful to the 144 signers who refused to be silent while our community was being torn apart. We are keeping our eyes open …
May 5, 2021
Final supporters
FINAL UPDATE:This Petition is now closed for voting and commenting. We sincerely thank all 144 petitioners (prophetically, the 144,000). You made history at SAA and we know the power structure has been watching and listening. They are already being forced to reckon with this movement for transparency, democracy, and accountability, and we have only just begun. Meanwhile, please visit our new transparency blog "Eyes on SAA" https://lilyrichmond39.wixsite.com/eyesonsaa
There you can keep up with ongoing reporting on important issues, subscribe to instantly receive emails with each new post on our blog, and contact us to report matters of significance at Spencerville Adventist Academy. We will not keep as secret the important information you should know about, gaslight you with duplicitous press releases, or condescend to you that "all is well and that there's nothing to see here." No way. Not us. Never. We'll be keeping busy building a network of contacts, subscribers, and reporters who will work together to improve a school that we love by "Shining Light. Breaking Silence. Holding Accountable."
-Lillian Hepburn-Richmond (A Cohort of Concerned Parents)
_________________________________
ORIGINAL PETITION (4/8/2021)
Jesus said the sign that we know Him is if we love one another. Love isn’t an abstract idea. It’s how we treat one another – even when things are complicated and we feel irritated with each other. It’s also when we see a sister treated poorly, whether we are willing to come beside her, stand with her, support her. This petition is about love. Love for SAA. Love for Judie. Love for the rest of the SAA administration. Love for SAA students and families. And expressing that love in a redeeming, Christ-like manner.
Many across the community are concerned that Judie's sudden and unexplained absence from SAA over the past week is disruptive and not in the best interests of our students and teachers as they finish the school year. While her absence is now apparent, we still have received no official word that she is gone, or been given explanations how this was the right decision for our school. This is damaging to the trust placed in the SAA Board and Administration, to whom this Petition is directed:
1. We respectfully request that Judie Rosa be permitted to return and complete the school year to serve the best interests of our children, and in acknowledgement of her years of hard work and sacrifice for the SAA community.
2. We respectfully request a "Town Hall" style meeting with the SAA Board and Administration, for them to explain why there has not been transparency in the past week, and why Judie has seemingly been treated in a manner that to the community appears less than respectful or constructive, or beneficial to our children.
Note: Judie Rosa’s participation with this petition was not sought. This petition is open to anyone, but especially the SAA Community, past or present. It was organized by a cohort of concerned parents using the name “Lillian Hepburn-Richmond.” You may read their concerns here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MVvoTYLBvEXH_p...
Updates
April 11, 2021
The stories shared in the comments prove that Judie is not alone in this fight. Seeing so many of you rally for her keeps me moving forward while we push for the transparency this school administration desperately lacks.
April 11, 2021
Seeing this momentum grow has been truly overwhelming for me and my family. It proves that so many of you care just as deeply as I do about justice for Judie.
Reached 100 supporters
April 11, 2021
51 Comments
Judie is an effective leader who uses metrics to guide her decisions and keeps her teachers accountable. It is upsetting that the current administration and board not only fail to recognize the value Judie brings to our school, but have asked her to leave. We are losing talent! The poor communication from the admin/board regarding this situation has diminished my faith in the leadership of SAA.
Principal Rosa has been an outstanding principal who demonstrates a great Christian attitude. She has only improved the elementary/middle school since she’s worked there. Her work at SAA and her work in past jobs has proven more than enough that she is a very competent principal. She deserves to finish the year working at SAA.
Mrs.Rosa is one of the most charismatic, compassionate, understanding, and hard workers I know. Everything she does is with diligence. Not only did Mrs.Rosa make such good connections with us, but Mrs. Rosa also treated us like her own kids. It is tremendously devastating to see her go knowing that she exemplified a true Christ-like Vice-principal and, I have so much respect for her.
We were sadden to hear about Mrs.Rosa departure,just want to tell everybody how wonderful and nice she has been to us and since our school is “our community”we deserve an explanation.
It would be a wonderful Christian example for the children to see someone they look up to be allowed to see this school year and Class of 2021 through till successful completion.
I am signing because of the lack of transparency. Judie Rosa was one of the reasons that we entrusted our boys to Spencerville Adventist Academy.
Will Change Come to SAA? Or Shall We Continue the Status Quo? Although the requests of 144 community members for a Town Hall Meeting were callously ignored by Board Chair Noble, Principal Bowerman, Superintendent Walker and the rest of the power structure, there reportedly will be a Constituency Meeting in June (according to the Board Chairperson’s May 5 release). Date? Time? Location? Format? No one knows. But it is now up to you, the students, teachers, parents, and alumni of SAA, and most importantly, you members of Spencerville SDA Church as the sole governing constituents to demand answers, accountability, and changes at the school board and administration levels to ensure that things do not return to the old order of the status quo. We urge a new infusion of democracy and of new leadership in the school board chair and executive committee, some of whom we believe have been in place for up to an entire generation (no one really knows because the list is secret). The school board must no longer be an exclusive club serving as the handmaiden of the administration and the tool of the CC, but a legitimate entity unto itself that is openly and democratically selected (not quietly screened and groomed by the board chair, principal, and pastor in back rooms) to directly engage the concerns of SAA students, teachers, and parents; and then also to serve as an effective representative check and balance on the SAA administration. Who will be brave and courageous enough to step up and fight for these changes? You may follow more information, and contribute your own news items and comments on our new blog 'Eyes on SAA': https://lilyrichmond39.wixsite.com/eyesonsaa
Lessons Learned from the Termination of Judie Rosa, SAA Elementary Principal: 1. Those responsible for terminating Mrs. Rosa have weakened SAA both for today and the foreseeable future. Administrators of her caliber do not grow on the nearest tree. Neither do talented teachers that are now leaving the school in droves. 2. SAA Administration and its Board lack the awareness and common sense to keep the best talent at our school - what the overwhelming majority of the community could have told them had they bothered to ask. 3. Unless calculated to protect its image, we cannot count on either SAA Administration or its Board Chair for relevant, timely, or reliable information we need to properly support our children’s teachers and make decisions for our children’s education. 4. Settling political scores within SAA the administration takes priority over individual merit, past success, and the children’s best interests. If you want to last on the SAA staff, you must form strategic alliances with the powerful and elite members of the administration, board, and/or church. If you don’t toe the party line, you will be punished. 5. We urge a new infusion of democracy, accountability to constituents, and of new leadership in the power structure at SAA. There needs to be a change in the SAA School Board Chair, the unknown members of the Executive Committee and their term limits, and the backroom manner in which board members are discreetly assigned. We also have lost trust in the remaining SAA administration, but we now know how instantly that can be changed. We must press for these changes to happen immediately for the good of our school and our children’s education. All these lessons were learned at the expense of our children, their teachers, and the institution. You may follow more information, and contribute your own news items and comments on our new blog 'Eyes on SAA': https://lilyrichmond39.wixsite.com/eyesonsaa
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Judie is an effective leader who uses metrics to guide her decisions and keeps her teachers accountable. It is upsetting that the current administration and board not only fail to recognize the value Judie brings to our school, but have asked her to leave. We are losing talent! The poor communication from the admin/board regarding this situation has diminished my faith in the leadership of SAA.